If you’ve ever eaten spicy food then you’ve encountered Capsaicin. This incredible substance is not just a flavor-booster, though. It has also been shown to relieve muscle aches, joint pain, cramps, and the pain associated with arthritis when applied topically.

Israeli scientists are finding that it has even GREATER potential than we originally thought. “The holy grail of any local anesthetic treatment is to stop pain without causing any other effects,” says Dr. Alexander Binshtok of Tel Aviv University’s Sackler School of Medicine. This goal may actually be achieved with the use of Capsaicin!

By joining Capsaicin with a derivative of Lidocaine, doctors may be able to target pain receptors selectively and reduce the risks that come with anesthesia. This hot new medicine may replace the need for epidurals, which can actually complicate deliveries.